Disgraced Ex-FIFA Executive Chuck Blazer Has Died At 72

Chuck Blazer, the man credited with pushing US soccer onto the world stage, has died at age 72, according to his lawyer.

Blazer — a longtime FIFA executive and leader for CONCACAF, the North American, Central American, and Caribbean soccer alliance — made millions as he turned Major League Soccer into a booming business in the US and its national team into a World Cup mainstay. In 2015, he was banned from FIFA permanently as a corruption scandal unfolded across world soccer’s leaders.

“His misconduct, for which he accepted full responsibility, should not obscure Chuck’s positive impact on international soccer,” his attorney Mary Mulligan said in a statement. “With Chuck’s guidance and leadership, CONCACAF transformed itself from impoverished to profitable, with substantial benefits and improvements to all member associations, players and fans.”